What to Expect at AACR 2025: Roswell Park Researchers to Discuss Recent Discoveries

During the upcoming annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Chicago, Illinois, April 25-30, 2025, researchers from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Buffalo, NY, will be reporting on their latest research findings.

First center for Indigenous cancer research

• Invited Talk: A Model for Meeting the Needs of Indigenous Communities

In 2020, Rodney Haring, PhD, MSW, launched the nation’s first center for Indigenous cancer research at Roswell Park. Now Chair of the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health at the Buffalo cancer center, Haring will trace the expanding scope of his department’s influence during his invited talk.

“Nation to nation to cancer centers: Exemplars of sovereignty across the cancer care continuum” on Wednesday, April 30, from 11:10-11:30 a.m. CDT in Room S106, McCormick Place South, Level 1.

“Our work isn’t just research,” said Haring, an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Beaver Clan), also known as the “Kanien’kehá:ka,” or “People of the Standing Stone,” is one of the six original nations that formed the “Haudenosaunee Confederacy” (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy).

“It’s also service, education, patient navigation and creating opportunities for the next generation of cancer scientists.”

“Other cancer centers in North America, Australia and New Zealand have begun creating partnerships with Indigenous nations to address tribal needs and priorities in their respective areas,” Haring added.

“It’s important to talk about what is important to our communities and how we have embedded those priorities into our work, to learn what our colleagues at other sites and centers are doing, to share what we’re doing,” he further noted.

“All the knowledge that comes back to us goes back to our communities, across the U.S. and beyond,” he concluded.

Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy is an important treatment option for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). But the majority of patients do not achieve durable responses with anti-PD1 treatment. One of the reasons is that the activity of anti-PD1 agents can be limited by adenosine in the tumor micro-environment (TME), which exerts immunosuppressive effects through A2a receptors on both adaptive and innate immune cells.

Preclinical studies have shown that adenosine suppresses T-cell function through mechanisms distinct from PD1 inhibition. Effective inhibition of the adenosine pathway may therefore potentiate current immunotherapy strategies, especially in combination with radiation. JNJ-86974680 is a small molecule selective A2a receptor (A2aR) competitive antagonist, exhibiting high in vitro potency (IC₅₀= 0.01uM).

A 2-part, first-in-human (FIH) Phase 1 study (NCT06116786) , evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of JNJ-86974680 (Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation) as a monotherapy, and in combination with anti-PD1 cetrelimab (also known as JNJ 63723283; JNJ-3283; WHO-10757; Janssen Research & Development) in patients with NSCLC who progressed after prior therapy with anti-PD1 and chemotherapy.

Preliminary results, to be presented by the study’s first author Prantesh Jain, MD, FACP, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, confirms that JNJ-86974680 shows a favorable safety and tolerability profile as monotherapy and in combination with cetrelimab, with dose-proportional PK and near-complete A2aR inhibition in peripheral lymphocytes at clinically relevant doses (15-30 mg). Ongoing dose escalation aims to optimize intratumoral drug concentrations and maximize A2aR inhibition. [abstract CT137]

Late-Breaking Research
Three members of the Roswell Park faculty will be featured in sessions on late-breaking research on Breast Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Lung Cancer.

• Gokul Das, PhD, Professor of Oncology and Co-Director of the Breast Translational Group, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, will present abstract LB005, “Synergistic effect of tamoxifen and doxorubicin on a novel estrogen receptorβ-p53-p73 axis: A new therapeutic strategy against triple negative breast cancer,” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 50, board 5. Chetan Oturkar, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, is first author on the study.
• Scott Olejniczak, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Immunology, will discuss abstract LB037, “CD28 drives CAR T cell responses in multiple myeloma,” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 51, board 14.
• Sayan Chakraborty, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, will present abstract LB069, “An agrin mechanotransduction for EGFR-addicted cancers,” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 53, board 5.

Featured Posters
Several other Roswell Park experts will present posters documenting findings that advance our understanding in key areas of oncology:

• Bhavisha Doshi, MS, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, will present “Investigating sex disparities in bladder cancer using carcinogen induced bladder cancer mouse model” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 9, board 15. Anna Woloszynska, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 221.
• Deepak Vadehra, DO, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, will present “Integration of serum and tumor metabolomics reveals distinct metabolic profiles in early onset colorectal cancer” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 12, board 7. Abstract 285.
• Andrei Bakin, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, will present “A novel combination immunotherapy for p53 mutant metastatic breast cancer leveraging vulnerabilities in the DNA damage response” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 CDT, in Section 28, board 29. Christos Fountzilas, MD, FACP, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine, is senior author of the study. Abstract 663.
• Mohammed Alruwaili, MS, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, will present “Novel triple-drug combination strategy for p53 mutant cancers leveraging their DNA damage response liabilities” Tuesday, April 29, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 34, board 18. Andrei Bakin, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 5991.
• Dineen Vogler, predoctoral trainee, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, will present “The role of AKT3 in prostate cancer” Sunday, April 27, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in Section 4, board 15. Irwin Gelman, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Oncology, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 92.
• Bradley Balk, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, will present “Studying the role of chromatin accessibility in lineage plasticity of Rb1-deficient EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in Section 2, board 20. David Goodrich, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Oncology, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 1259.
• Gal Shafirstein, DSc, MSc, Director of PDT Clinical Research, Department of Cell Stress Biology, will present “Imaging tumor oxygenation during interstitial photodynamic therapy” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in Section 6, board 1. The study first author is Emily Oakley-Gawrys, PhD, Postdoctoral Affiliate, Department of Cell Stress Biology. Abstract 1328.
• Gal Shafirstein, DSc, MSc, Director of PDT Clinical Research, Department of Cell Stress Biology, will present “Intraoperative light transmission: A translational dosimteric marker for tumor response in interstitial photodynamic therapy” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in Section 6, board 2. The study first author is Christopher Lawson, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Cell Stress Biology. Abstract 1329.
•  Kohei Chida, Postdoctoral Affiliate, Department of Surgical Oncology, will present “Interstitial photodynamic therapy enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor in estrogen receptor high-expressing breast cancer” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in Section 6, board 13. Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS, FSSO, Chief of Breast Surgery, is senior author of the study. Abstract 1340.
• First author Jun Arima, MD, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, Department of Surgical Oncology, will present “ESR1 expression as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer,” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 7, board 5. Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS, FSSO, Professor of Oncology, Department of Surgery, and Clinical Chief of the Department of Breast Surgery, is senior author of the study. Abstract 1350.
• Sarah Athans, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, will present “STAG2-mediated gene expression programs promote invasion in muscle invasive bladder cancer” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 10, board 19. Anna Woloszynska, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 1422.
• Masanori Oshi will present “Intra-tumoral NK cell number is associated with immune response, and combination of it and clinical features is a strong prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer” Monday, April 8, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 30, board 10. Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS, FSSO, Professor of Oncology, Department of Surgery, and Clinical Chief of the Department of Breast Surgery, is senior author of the study. Abstract 2009.
• Takumi Sato will present “High mesothelin expressing triple negative breast cancer is associated with enhanced cell proliferation but without impact on survival outcomes” Monday, April 28 CDT, 9 a.m.-noon, in section 31, board 8. Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS, FSSO, Professor of Oncology, Department of Surgery, and Clinical Chief of the Department of Breast Surgery, is senior author of the study. Abstract 2039.
• Peter Fiorica, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, will present “Ancestral and genetic determinants of pathologic tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in a large multi-ethnic population of women with breast cancer” Monday, April 28, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 39, board 24. Song Yao, MD, PhD, Director of Molecular Epidemiology and Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, is senior author of the study. Abstract 2283.
• Kavin Velur Ganesan, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, will present “Defining the mechanism of semaphorin4D tumorigenesis in prostate cancer models” Tuesday, April 29, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 1, board 2. Kent Nastiuk, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, departments of Urology and Cancer Genetics & Genomics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 3837.
• Payal Goala, MS, Predoctoral Trainee, Department of Medicine, will present “Modulation of Th1/Th17 axis through IFNγ-blockade alleviates Anti-CD19 CAR-T associated toxicities in a pre-clinical immune competent model” Tuesday, April 29, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 37, board 3. Marco Davila, MD, PhD, Rustum Family Endowed Chair in Translational Research, is senior author of the study. Abstract 4800.
• Chi-Chen Hong, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, is senior author of “Self-reported experiences of discrimination and inflammatory-related biomarkers among Black breast cancer survivors,” Tuesday, April 29, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 4, board 8. Abstract 4897.
• Dongbo Xu, PhD, Research Associate, Department of Urology, will present “Modeling luminal urothelial carcinoma in the bladder and the upper tract” Tuesday, April 29, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in section 3, board 2. Qiang Li, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Urology, is senior author of the study. Abstract 5154.
• Mohammed Alruwaili, MS, Predoctoral Trainee in Cancer Genetics & Genomics, will present “Novel triple-drug combination strategy for p53 mutant cancers leveraging their DNA damage response liabilities” Tuesday, April 29, 2-5 p.m. CDT, in section 34, board 18. Andrei Bakin, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, is senior author of the study. Abstract 5991.
• Gabrielle Kennelley will present “Carcinogen withdrawal in the BBN induced mouse model of bladder cancer mimics cigarette smoking cessation in humans with decreased tumor progression” Wednesday, April 30, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 3, board 20. Wendy Huss, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology, Department of Cell Stress Biology, is senior author of the study. Abstract 6509.
• Mauricio Flores, Predoctoral Trainee in Pharmacology & Therapeutics, will present “RB1 and TP53 restrict lineage plasticity in prostate cancer by regulating chromatin accessibility” Tuesday, April 29, 9 a.m.-noon CDT, in section 3, board 29. David Goodrich, PhD, Professor of Oncology in the Departments of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Urology, is senior author of the study. Abstract 6713.

Clinical trials
A Study of JNJ-86974680 in Participants With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer – ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06116786

Reference
Jain P, Spira A, Lee S, Cho BC, Felip E, Aguilar A, Gordon S, Ochsenreither S, Wehler T, McGillivray A, Chen A, Venkatasubramanian R, Bandekar R, Jin S, Martín-Pérez R, Hasan AN, Henick B. Initial results from a phase 1 study of an A2a receptor antagonist, administered as monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD1 therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In: Proceedings of the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2025 April 25-30; Chicago, IL.: AACR; 2025. Abstract nr CT137 / 3.

Featured Image: Millenium Park, Chicago. Courtesey: © 2018 – 2025 Fotolia/Adobe, Used with Permission.

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